Vic Public Holidays

Victoria Public Holidays

Victoria Public Holidays

Welcome to Vic Public Holidays: Your Ultimate Guide for Victoria’s Public Holidays.

Start exploring Victoria, Australia, by travelling the vibrant tapestry of public holidays at Vic Public Holidays. We aim to provide Victorians and visitors with an easy-to-navigate guide to public holidays across Victoria, from Australia Day celebrations to commemorating ANZAC Day. Vic Public Holidays serves as your one-stop resource for public holidays during 2024 and beyond.

Plan a family vacation, organise a community event, or simply explore Victoria’s rich cultural significance with our comprehensive lists of holidays and their celebrations. Whether you are a newcomer or a longtime resident, make the most of these significant dates. We aim to help everyone make the most of our great state’s many experiences and festivities!

Stay informed and plan your year more easily as we walk you through Victoria’s calendar of public holidays, making sure you never miss an opportunity to celebrate, reflect, or relax in this incredible part of Australia.

Victoria Public Holidays 2024

The table below shows a combination of Victorian statewide holidays and local/regional holidays.

Notes:

The Queen’s Birthday public holiday has been replaced by the King’s Birthday public holiday.

  1. Australia Day – Friday, 26 January 2024 Australia Day in Victoria is a day of national pride and celebration. Across the state, from Melbourne to the smallest towns, communities come together to celebrate Australia’s rich culture and history. The day is filled with outdoor events, barbecues, concerts, and community festivals, showcasing the Australian spirit. It’s a time for reflection on the nation’s past, its achievements, and its aspirations, often marked by the display of the Australian flag and other national symbols.
  2. Labour Day – Monday, 11 March 2024 Labour Day in Victoria commemorates the historic achievement of the eight-hour workday, a significant milestone in the Australian labour movement. This public holiday is a tribute to the contributions of workers to the nation. Victorians often celebrate the day with outdoor activities, community events, and parades, enjoying the last days of summer with family and friends in parks and beaches.
  3. Good Friday – Friday, 29 March 2024 Observed by many Christians in Victoria, Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It’s a day of solemn reflection and religious observances, with many attending church services. The day also kicks off the Easter long weekend, a time for family gatherings. In Melbourne, the Good Friday Appeal is a significant event, raising funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital through various community activities.
  4. ANZAC Day – Thursday, 25 April 2024 ANZAC Day is a solemn day of remembrance in Victoria, honouring the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’ first major military engagement during World War I. Dawn services, wreath-laying ceremonies, and commemorative marches are held throughout Victoria, including at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. It’s a day to pay respects to those who served and sacrificed in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.
  5. Melbourne Cup – Tuesday, 5 November 2024 The Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most famous horse racing event, is a significant cultural occasion in Victoria. Primarily celebrated in the Melbourne metropolitan area as a public holiday, the festivities extend throughout the state. The day is characterised by fashion, social gatherings, and the excitement of the race at Flemington Racecourse. It’s a day that captures the essence of Victoria’s sporting and cultural traditions, with parties and events held in various venues.

**Melbourne Cup Day is not a public holiday in all areas. Some regions observe a different holiday for Melbourne Cup instead. Regional or non-metropolitan holidays are published throughout the year. Please check back at a later date for more details if your region is missing.

***Kyneton Cup Holiday is for the former Shire of Kyneton area in recognition of Kyneton Cup – this is defined by postcodes 3444, 3446, 3458 and the localities of Cadello and Carlsruhe. A public holiday has been declared on Tuesday 7 November for the remainder of the shire in recognition of Melbourne Cup.

Additional Information

The Business Victoria website is run by the State Government of Victoria and is a great resource for additional Victoria-specific public holiday information. The website has handy information on operating on restricted trading days and is also a great place to double-check public holiday dates.

In Australia, there are a total of seven national public holidays that are observed by each state throughout the country.

In addition, each state has several public holidays that are observed only within their state. Some states also have local or regional holidays that are observed by a smaller section of each state.

The national Australian public holidays are:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Australia Day
  • ANZAC Day
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Monday
  • Christmas Day
  • Boxing Day

The public holidays that are exclusive to Victoria are:

  • Labour Day
  • King’s Birthday
  • Friday before AFL Grand Final Holiday
  • Melbourne Cup Holiday*

*Some regions within Victoria replace the Melbourne Cup holiday for an event of local importance. All of Victoria is entitled to the Melbourne Cup public holiday unless an alternate local holiday has been arranged by a non-metropolitan municipality.

In the past, these regions have included Bendigo (Bendigo Cup Holiday), Macedon Ranges (Kyneton Cup Day), Warrnambool and Moyne Shire (Warrnambool Cup Day), Geelong (Geelong Cup Day), Wodonga (Wodonga Gold Cup Day).